marcox

The Suburbs, 1955. From your lofty perch in time, you're expecting perky perfection and utter dullness. But Revolutionary Road was published in 1961, when the 1950's American Way of Life was still a real thing containing real human dramas. Great book. Extremely readable. Prose that can only be described as graceful, fluid, and astonishingly efficient. The story chronicles the critical year in the lives of Frank and April Wheeler, a young couple who find themselves playing house (and playing mommy and daddy) several years too soon for their liking. And so their intellectual aspirations go unfulfilled. Their disconnection from their own children becomes disturbing. Neither was ever able to connect with their own parents, and Frank tries to compensate by aligning his career path with that of his father. April, however, is so deeply damaged by her absentee parents that she can no longer identify herself when confronted with the roles of Wife and Mother. Yates delivers gripping drama...and for me, the realization that Ozzie and Harriet had origins I never considered before. How did people come into this new cultural phenomenon of The 'Burbs? How did they really feel about it? One couple's story can't answer for everyone, but this one is eye-opening. There are so many aspects and themes to explore...I could write a book on this book. But this is not a book about "themes." It is detailed and real, with human beings under a microscope. Oh so good. A terrific choice for any bookclub as it is sure to provoke a good discussion. Just read it.

2022-11-14 13:55